Chair

ABSTRACT

A wheeled chair construction having a frame formed by a pair of identical, parallel side frame members and a pair of essentially identical seat frame members each having seat and wheel support portions joined one to each of side frame members in a vertically spaced relationship and a vertically inclined connecting portion extending transversely adjacent the rear of the chair for connecting the seat and wheel support portions.

United States Patent .1191

Mattsson CHAIR [76] lnventorz Erik B. Mattsson, 73 Hammond St.,

Jamestown, NY. 14701 [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 283,707

521 u.s.c| ..297/419,297/423,297/440,

297/010. 4 511 lnt.Cl. A47c 5/04 581 Field ofSearch 297/44. 45. 42,419,420,

297/421, 422, 423, 445, 446, 447, 294, 295, 239, DlG. 4, 440

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,084,310 6/1937 Breuer297/295 2,379,566 7/1945 Duke 297/45 2,402,085 6/1946 Rideout 297/4410/1949 Everest 297/45 i 3,814,477 5] June 4, 1974 2,460,459 2/1949Krasku..... .i 297/44 X 2,618,316 11/1952 Way 297/421 2,629,432 2/1953Hanslick 297/419 2,914,111 11/1959 Mize 297/45 3,054,638 9/1962 Johnson297/42 3,390,893 7/1968 MacLaren 297/45 Primary Examiner-Francis K.Zugel Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bean & Bean [57] ABSTRACT A wheeled chairconstruction having a frame formed by a pair of identical, parallel sideframe members and a pair of essentially identical seat frame memberseach having seat and wheel-support portions joined one to each of sideframe members in a vertically spaced relationship and a verticallyinclined connecting portion extending transversely adjacent the rear ofthe chair for-connecting the seat and wheel support portions.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJM 4 I974 SHEET 2 BF 2 w a G|IIINHII CHAIR SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directedtowards wheel type chairs and more particularly to a novel chair frameconstruction admitting to light weight and low cost fabricationtechniques.

The frame of the chair of the present invention is preferably fabricatedfrom four metal tubes bent to define a pair of identical side framemembers and a pair of essentially identical seat frame members. Eachseat frame member defines seat and wheel support portions, which arejoined to the side frame members in a vertically spaced relationship anda vertically inclined connecting portion, which extends transverselyadjacent the rear of the chair for connecting the seat and chair supportportions. The wheel support portions cooperate with their associatedside frame members to form points of attachment for the wheels of thechair. Preferably, the free ends of the wheel support portions extendforwardly of their associated side frame members and define rests forthe feet of an occupant of the chair.

A preferred form of the present chair additionally includes acombination backrest-storage compartment, which extends between the sideframe members; a seat, which extends between the seat portions; and astorage shelf, which is arranged vertically below the seat and extendsbetween the wheel support portions.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of the present invention is more fullydescribed in the following detailed description taken with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the chair according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the chair framework;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 55 in FIG. I; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is now made to FIGS. I-3, wherein a chairformed in accordance with the present invention is generally designatedas [0. Chair 10 features a novel frame construction having a pair ofside frame members 12 and I2 and a pair of seat frame members 14 and 14;and further generally includes a pair of swivel mounted front wheels 16and 16', a pair of rear wheels 18 and 18'. a seat 20, a back rest 22 anda storage shelf 24.

In accordance with the preferred form of the present invention, sideframe members 12 and 12' are of identical construction and individuallyformed by shaping, as by bending, a single tube of steel, aluminum orother suitable material. With reference to FIGS. 1-4, members l2 and 12include sequentially end connected upstanding handle-back rest parts 30and 30 fitted with molded handle grips 30a and 30a, respectively; lowerforwardly extending wheel support parts 32 and 32; lower front parts 34and 34; rearwardly extending seat parts 36 and 36'; upstanding connectoror rear parts 38 and 38; upper forwardly extending arm rest parts 40 and40'; and upper front parts 42 and 42, which have their lower endsjoined, as by brazing, to the juncture of parts 34 and 36 and 34 and 36,respectively. Connector parts 38 and 38' are suitably fixed tohandleback rest parts 32 and 32', as by bolts 44 and 44, to complete theside frame members. If desired, the arm rest parts may be fitted witharm rests 40a and 40. a.

Again referring to FIGS. l-4, it will be understood that seat framemembers 14 and 14' are of substantially identical construction and alsopreferably formed by shaping, as by bending, a single tube of steel,aluminum or other suitable material to define seat portions 50 and 50;wheel support portions 52 and 52'; and vertically inclined connectingportions 54 and 54', which are arranged to extend transversely adjacentthe rear of the chair frame to connect the rearwardly disposed ends ofseat and wheel support portions 50 and 52 and 50 and 52', respectively.Seat portions 50 and 50' extend substantially co-extensively with seatparts 36 and 36 and are suitably immovably affixed thereto in anoverlying relationship, as by means of bolts 56 and 56, respectively.Wheel support portions 52 and 52' extend substantially coextensivelywith wheel support parts 32 and 32, respectively, and are affixed to lietransversely inwardly thereof in the manner to be described. The thusassociated seat portions and parts 50 and 36 and 50' and 36' may beconsidered to define a pair of spaced seat support units, whereas theassociated wheel support portions and parts 52 and 32 and 52 and 32' maybe considered to define a pair of spaced wheel support units.

Preferably, the forward ends of wheel support portions 52 and 52 areformed with extensions, which extend forwardly of their associated sideframe members and are shaped to define foot rests 58 and58' for anoccupant of the chair. If desired, connecting portions 54 and 54' may beinterconnected adjacent their mid points by a pin, rivet or bolt 60.

While various arrangements may be employed to imovably interconnectportion 52 and part 32 and portion 52 and part 32' and to attach thewheel support units to the wheels of the chair, it is preferred tointerconnect their front ends by combination front wheel mounting-clampdevices 62 and 62, respectively and to interconnect their rear ends byfixing same, as by weldingor brazing, to a rear wheel mounting device,such as may be in the form of a tube or shaft 64. To accommodate thechair to receive large diameter rear wheels 18 and 18' of the typecommonly employed for occupant propelled invalid chairs, the rearwa rdlyextending ends of parts 32 and 32 and portions 52 and 52' are stepped orvertically offset, as indicated at 32a, 32a, 52a and 52a. Devices 62 and62 are best shown in F IG. 4 as including upper plates 66 and 66' andfront wheel mounting lower plates 68 and 68, which have their facingcontoured surfaces clamped in engagement with the wheel support units bybolts 70 and 70' If desired, devices 62 and 62' may be fitted with quickrelease latch devices, not shown, for their associated wheels 16 and 16'in order to prevent runaway" of a parked" chair. The construction ofwheels l6, l6, l8 and 18' and the manner in which they are connected tomounting device 64 and lower mounting plates 68 and 68" may beconventional and thus forms no part of the present invention.

ltwill be understood that diverse types of seats may be employed incombination with the chair frame thus far described. However, to reducematerial costs and facilitate fabrication of the chair, it is preferableto form seat 20 from a single Sheet of vinyl or other plastic material,which has its opposite marginal edges or ends looped, as best shown inFIG. at 72, to slideably receive seat portions 50 and 50. Afterassembly, seat 20 is constrained from sliding lengthwise of seatportions 50 and 52' by bolts 56 and 56'. 1

in a like manner shelf 24 is preferably formed of a vinyl or otherplastic material whose opposite marginal edges or ends are formed withloops 74 to freely receive wheel support portions 52 and 52. Shelf 24 ismaintained in position during use by front edge engagement with devices62 and 62' and rear edge engagement with mounting device 64.

Back rest 22 is also preferably formed of vinyl sheet material, whoseopposite marginal edges or ends are looped, as at 76, to freely receivehandle-back rest parts 30 and 30; the back rest being retained inposition after the chair is assembled by rrreansof bolts 44 and 44'.When the chair of the present invention is primarily intended for use asa shopping chair, back rest 22 would be provided with an integrallyformed storage compartment or basket 78.

it will be appreciated from the foregoing that chair is characterized asbeing of sturdy, but lightweight, low cost construction, due to thenovel constructionof the chair frame comprising only four metal tubularmembers. The reverse bending and mode of interconnecting the severalparts of the side frame members provides extremely strong, but lightweight sides for the chair, while the design of the seat frame membersand their mode of attachment to the side frame members provides thechair with transverse stability to prevent inward movement of the sidesof the chair under occupant loading. Moreover, the specific mannerdisclosed for use in attaching the seat, shelf and back rest to theelements of the chair frame, both facilitates fabrication of the chairand replacementof these elements when worn or damaged.

1 claim:

1. A wheeled chair comprising in combination:

a chair frame, said frame including a pair of side frame members and apair of seat frame members, each of said side frame members beingdefined by deforming a single, piece of metallic tubing and including anupstanding handle-back rest part, a

wheel support part extending forwardly from adjacent a lower end of saidhandle-back rest part, a lower front part extending upwardly fromadjacent a forward end of said wheel support part, a seat part extendingrearwardly from adjacent an upper end of said lower front part, a rearpart upstanding from adjacent a rearward end of said seat part, an armrest part extending forwardly from adjacent an upper end of said rearpart and an upper front part extending downwardly from adjacent aforward end of said arm rest part and having a lower end thereof fixedadjacent the juncture of said lower front part and said seat part, saidrear part being fixed to said handle-back rest part, each of said seatframe members having a seat portion-fixed to and extending substantiallyco-ex tensively with said seat part of one of said side frame membersand cooperating therewith to define a seat support unit, a wheel supportportion extending substantially coextensively with said wheel supportpart of an other of said side frame members and cooperating therewith toform a wheel support unit and a vertically inclined connecting portionfor rigidly interconnecting the rearwardly disposed ends of said seatand wheel support portions, said seat portions being disposed verticallyabove said seat parts, said wheel support portions being disposedtransversely inwardly of said wheel support parts;

a pair of front wheel support devices associated one with each of saidwheel support units for clampingly fixing together forward ends of itsassociated wheel support part and wheel support portion;

a pair of front wheels mounted one by each of said front wheel supportdevices;

a single rear wheel support device extending transversely of said frameand being fixed to rearward ends of said wheel support parts and saidwheel support portions;

a pair of rear wheels mounted adjacent opposite ends of said rear wheelsupport device;

a seat extending transversely of said chair frame and being supported bysaid seat support units; and

a back rest extending transversely of said chair frame and beingsupported by said handle-back rest parts.

2. A chair. according to claim 1, wherein integrally formed forwardlydisposed ends of said wheel support portions extend forwardly of saidwheel support parts to define foot rests for an occupant of. said chair.

3. A chair according to claim 1, wherein a shelf extends transverselyof; said chair frame and is supported by said wheel support unitsintermediate said front and rear wheels. v

4. A chair according to claim 1, wherein said seat is formed withopposite marginal edges looped to receive said seat portions, said backrest is formedwith opposite marginal edges looped to receive saidhandle-back rest parts, and a shelf extends transversely of said chairframe beneath said seat, said shelf having opposite marginal .edgesthereof looped to receive said wheel support portions.

5. A frame for a wheeled chair, which comprises in combination:

a pair of side frame members, each of said side frame members. being ofintegral bent metal tubular construction and having sequentially endconnected parts including an upstanding handle-back rest part, a lowerforwardly extending wheel support part, a lower front part, a rearwardlyextending seat part, an upstanding connector part, an upper for wardlyextending arm rest part, and'an upper front part, said upstandingconnector part being fixed to saidhandle-back rest part, and said upperfront part being lower. end fixed adjacent the juncture of said lower'frontpart'and said seat part; and

a pair of seat frame members, each of said seat frame members being ofintegral. bent metaltubular construction and including a rearwardlyextending seat portion fixed to said seat pa'rtof one of said side framemembers, a forwardly extending wheel support portion fixed to said wheelsupport part of an 'otheruof said side frame members and a transverselyextending connecting portion end con- 7 nected to rearwardly disposedends of said seat and wheel support portions, said seat portions beingdisposed vertically above and extending substantially coextensivewiththeir associated seat parts,

said wheel support portions being disposed transversely inwardly of andextending substantially coextensive with their associated wheel supportparts, and said wheel support portions having forward end portionsarranged forwardly of said side frame members and shaped to define footrests for an occupant of said chair.

6. A wheeled chair comprising in combination:

a pair of side frame members, each of said side frame members being ofintegral bent metal tubular construction and having sequentially endconnected parts including an upstanding handle-back rest part, a lowerforwardly extending wheel support part, a lower front part, a rearwardlyextending seat part, an upstanding connector part, an upper forwardlyextending arm rest part, and an upper front part; said upstandingconnector part being fixed to said handle-back rest part, and said upperfront part being lower end fixed adjacent the juncture of said lowerfront part and said seat part;

a pair of seat frame members, each of said seat frame members being ofintegral bent metal tubular construction and including a rearwardlyextending seat portion fixed to and extending substantially coextensivewith said seat part of one of said side frame members to define a seatsupport unit, a forwardly extending wheel support portion fixed to andextending substantially coextensive with said wheel support part of another of said side frame members to define a wheel support unit, and atransversely extending connecting portion end connected to rearwardlydisposed ends of said seat and wheel support portions;

a single rear wheel support device extending transversely of said sideframe members and being fixed to the rearward end of each said wheelsupport unit;

a pair of front wheel support devices fixed one to each of said wheelsupport units for fixing together forward ends of its associated wheelsupport part and wheel support portion;

a pair of rear wheels mounted adjacent opposite ends of said rear wheelsupport device;

a pair of front wheels mounted one by each of said front wheel supportdevices;

a seat supported by said seat support units; and

a back rest supported by said handle-back rest parts.

7. A chair according to claim 6, wherein said seat portions are disposedvertically above their associated seat parts, and said wheel supportportions are disposed transversely inwardly of their associated wheelsupport parts.

8; A chair according to claim 7, wherein said seat portions are boltafiixed to their associated seat parts, and said front wheel supportdevices clampingly fix together forward ends of said wheel supportportions and their associated wheel support parts.

9. A frame for a wheeled chair including:

a pair of side frame members, each of said side frame members being ofintegral bent metal tubular construction and having sequentially endconnected parts including an upstanding handle-back rest part, a lowerforwardly extending wheel support part, a lower front part, a rearwardlyextending seat part, an upstanding connector part, an upper forwardlyextending arm rest part, and an upper front part, said upstandingconnector part being fixed to said handle-back rest part, and said upperfront part being lower end fixed adjacent the juncture of said lowerfront part and said seat part;

a pair of seat frame members, each of said seat frame members being ofintegral bent metal tubular construction and including a rearwardlyextending seat portion immovably fixed to and extending substantiallycoextensive with said seat part of one of said side frame members todefine a seat support unit, a forwardly extending wheel support portionimmovably fixed'to and extending substantially coextensive with saidwheel support part of an other of said side frame members to define awheel support unit and a transversely extending connecting portion endconnected to rearwardly disposed ends of said seat and wheel supportportions, said wheel support portions having forward end portionsarranged forwardly of said side frame members and shaped to define footrests for an occupant of said chair; pair of front wheel support devicesfixed one with each of said wheel support units adjacent forward endsthereof; and a single rear wheel support device extending transverselyof said frame and having its opposite ends fixed to rearward ends ofsaid wheel support units.

1. A wheeled chair comprising in combination: a chair frame, said frameincluding a pair of side frame members and a pair of seat frame members,each of said side frame members being defined by deforming a singlepiece of metallic tubing and including an upstanding handle-back restpart, a wheel support part extending forwardly from adjacent a lower endof said handle-back rest part, a lower front part extending upwardlyfrom adjacent a forward end of said wheel support part, a seat partextending rearwardly from adjacent an upper end of said lower frontpart, a rear part upstanding from adjacent a rearward end of said seatpart, an arm rest part extending forwardly from adjacent an upper end ofsaid rear part and an upper front part extending downwardly fromadjacent a forward end of said arm rest part and having a lower endthereof fixed adjacent the juncture of said lower front part and saidseat part, said rear part being fixed to said handleback rest part, eachof said seat frame members having a seat portion fixed to and extendingsubstantially co-extensively with said seat part of one of said sideframe members and cooperating therewith to define a seat support unit, awheel support portion extending substantially coextensively with saidwheel support part of an other of said side frame members andcooperating therewith to form a wheel support unit and a verticallyinclined connecting portion for rigidly interconnecting the rearwardlydisposed ends of said seat and wheel support portions, said seatportions being disposed vertically above said seat parts, said wheelsupport portions being disposed transversely inwardly of said wheelsupport parts; a pair of front wheel support devices associated one witheach of said wheel support units for clampingly fixing together forwardends of its associated wheel support part and wheel support portion; apair of front wheels mounted one by each of said front wheel supportdevices; a siNgle rear wheel support device extending transversely ofsaid frame and being fixed to rearward ends of said wheel support partsand said wheel support portions; a pair of rear wheels mounted adjacentopposite ends of said rear wheel support device; a seat extendingtransversely of said chair frame and being supported by said seatsupport units; and a back rest extending transversely of said chairframe and being supported by said handle-back rest parts.
 2. A chairaccording to claim 1, wherein integrally formed forwardly disposed endsof said wheel support portions extend forwardly of said wheel supportparts to define foot rests for an occupant of said chair.
 3. A chairaccording to claim 1, wherein a shelf extends transversely of said chairframe and is supported by said wheel support units intermediate saidfront and rear wheels.
 4. A chair according to claim 1, wherein saidseat is formed with opposite marginal edges looped to receive said seatportions, said back rest is formed with opposite marginal edges loopedto receive said handle-back rest parts, and a shelf extends transverselyof said chair frame beneath said seat, said shelf having oppositemarginal edges thereof looped to receive said wheel support portions. 5.A frame for a wheeled chair, which comprises in combination: a pair ofside frame members, each of said side frame members being of integralbent metal tubular construction and having sequentially end connectedparts including an upstanding handle-back rest part, a lower forwardlyextending wheel support part, a lower front part, a rearwardly extendingseat part, an upstanding connector part, an upper forwardly extendingarm rest part, and an upper front part, said upstanding connector partbeing fixed to said handle-back rest part, and said upper front partbeing lower end fixed adjacent the juncture of said lower front part andsaid seat part; and a pair of seat frame members, each of said seatframe members being of integral bent metal tubular construction andincluding a rearwardly extending seat portion fixed to said seat part ofone of said side frame members, a forwardly extending wheel supportportion fixed to said wheel support part of an other of said side framemembers and a transversely extending connecting portion end connected torearwardly disposed ends of said seat and wheel support portions, saidseat portions being disposed vertically above and extendingsubstantially coextensive with their associated seat parts, said wheelsupport portions being disposed transversely inwardly of and extendingsubstantially coextensive with their associated wheel support parts, andsaid wheel support portions having forward end portions arrangedforwardly of said side frame members and shaped to define foot rests foran occupant of said chair.
 6. A wheeled chair comprising in combination:a pair of side frame members, each of said side frame members being ofintegral bent metal tubular construction and having sequentially endconnected parts including an upstanding handle-back rest part, a lowerforwardly extending wheel support part, a lower front part, a rearwardlyextending seat part, an upstanding connector part, an upper forwardlyextending arm rest part, and an upper front part, said upstandingconnector part being fixed to said handle-back rest part, and said upperfront part being lower end fixed adjacent the juncture of said lowerfront part and said seat part; a pair of seat frame members, each ofsaid seat frame members being of integral bent metal tubularconstruction and including a rearwardly extending seat portion fixed toand extending substantially coextensive with said seat part of one ofsaid side frame members to define a seat support unit, a forwardlyextending wheel support portion fixed to and extending substantiallycoextensive with said wheel support part of an other of said side framemembers to define a wheel support unit, and a transversely extendingconnecting portioN end connected to rearwardly disposed ends of saidseat and wheel support portions; a single rear wheel support deviceextending transversely of said side frame members and being fixed to therearward end of each said wheel support unit; a pair of front wheelsupport devices fixed one to each of said wheel support units for fixingtogether forward ends of its associated wheel support part and wheelsupport portion; a pair of rear wheels mounted adjacent opposite ends ofsaid rear wheel support device; a pair of front wheels mounted one byeach of said front wheel support devices; a seat supported by said seatsupport units; and a back rest supported by said handle-back rest parts.7. A chair according to claim 6, wherein said seat portions are disposedvertically above their associated seat parts, and said wheel supportportions are disposed transversely inwardly of their associated wheelsupport parts.
 8. A chair according to claim 7, wherein said seatportions are bolt affixed to their associated seat parts, and said frontwheel support devices clampingly fix together forward ends of said wheelsupport portions and their associated wheel support parts.
 9. A framefor a wheeled chair including: a pair of side frame members, each ofsaid side frame members being of integral bent metal tubularconstruction and having sequentially end connected parts including anupstanding handle-back rest part, a lower forwardly extending wheelsupport part, a lower front part, a rearwardly extending seat part, anupstanding connector part, an upper forwardly extending arm rest part,and an upper front part, said upstanding connector part being fixed tosaid handle-back rest part, and said upper front part being lower endfixed adjacent the juncture of said lower front part and said seat part;a pair of seat frame members, each of said seat frame members being ofintegral bent metal tubular construction and including a rearwardlyextending seat portion immovably fixed to and extending substantiallycoextensive with said seat part of one of said side frame members todefine a seat support unit, a forwardly extending wheel support portionimmovably fixed to and extending substantially coextensive with saidwheel support part of an other of said side frame members to define awheel support unit and a transversely extending connecting portion endconnected to rearwardly disposed ends of said seat and wheel supportportions, said wheel support portions having forward end portionsarranged forwardly of said side frame members and shaped to define footrests for an occupant of said chair; a pair of front wheel supportdevices fixed one with each of said wheel support units adjacent forwardends thereof; and a single rear wheel support device extendingtransversely of said frame and having its opposite ends fixed torearward ends of said wheel support units.